SINGAPORE - Dr Laura Biffin was working in her clinic in River Valley Road on April 8 when she heard a commotion coming from Tomato Cooking School, located just down the road. 

The family physician ran outside and saw the shophouse that the cooking school was located in was on fire. 

Seeing children being evacuated to another shophouse, Dr Biffin, 38, helped to examine those hurt in the blaze.

A 10-year-old Australian girl died, and 21 others were injured.

The casualties included six adults aged between 23 and 55, and 16 children aged between six and 10.

Dr Biffin was among 18 members of the public who received the Singapore Civil Defence Force’s (SCDF) Community Lifesaver award on April 15 for their part in rescuing and helping the victims. 

Speaking to the media after the award ceremony at the 1st SCDF Division in Queensway, Dr Biffin said there were about 10 children who were evacuated to the other shophouse.

She added: “I looked around the room, and (the children) were coughing, they were burnt.

“I focused on one boy who looked lifeless when he was rescued, but I think he was in shock. His mouth was burnt so I made sure he could breathe.

“He later complained about the pain in his right hand, which looked badly burnt.”

Dr Biffin, a mother of three, said her five-year-old daughter had attended cooking lessons at the school six months earlier. She said she was upset when she learnt about the alleged fire safety breaches there.

She said: “I just hope this tragedy will lead to more strict measures on fire safety.”

SCDF had said earlier its investigations revealed the fire likely started from a storage area on the second storey of the three-storey shophouse. They found unauthorised partitions inside, among other fire safety breaches.

Those convicted of fire safety breaches can be fined up to $200,000, jailed for up to two years, or both.

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